Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz pointed out on Tuesday at the military's new posts atop the Syrian side of Mount Hermon that the Israeli army will retain control of the buffer zone "as long as it is needed" after the site was captured by the Israel Defense Forces last week.
"We will be here for as long as it is needed. Our presence here at the peak of the Hermon strengthens security and adds a dimension of both observation and deterrence to Hezbollah’s strongholds in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon and deterrence against the rebels in Damascus, who pretend to present a moderate image but belong to the most extreme Islamic sects," Katz added.
Katz previously instructed the military to prepare for a stay at the site during winter citing security concerns.
